Painter: Skeletal remains case is homicide

Preliminary autopsy report indicates cause of death was ‘gunshot to skull area’

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Updated
9:49 pm CST, Friday, February 9, 2018

Heavy machinery are on scene at the 5000 block of West County Road 116 where skeletal remains were discovered.

Heavy machinery are on scene at the 5000 block of West County Road 116 where skeletal remains were discovered.

Photo: Mercedes Cordero/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Mercedes Cordero/Reporter-Telegram

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Heavy machinery are on scene at the 5000 block of West County Road 116 where skeletal remains were discovered.

Heavy machinery are on scene at the 5000 block of West County Road 116 where skeletal remains were discovered.

Photo: Mercedes Cordero/Reporter-Telegram

Painter: Skeletal remains case is homicide

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Preliminary autopsy reports on the skeletal remains found in two pits in Midland County indicate cause of death was “gunshot to the skull area,” Sheriff Gary Painter said Friday morning. “Manner of death on both skeletal remains is declared as homicide.”

The report did not mention identification of the remains or results of DNA testing, Painter said in a press release. The forensic pathologist at the Tarrant County Examiner’s Officer has not completed scientific examinations.

The discovery of the first set of remains – beginning with a skeletal foot -- was made in a pit in the area of the 5000 block of West County Road 116 on Jan. 28, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram article. The second set of remains – beginning with a skeletal skull -- was found Feb. 3 in a second pit in the same location, according to a previous article.

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Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter held a press conference regarding the discovery of remains in the county. Authorities are considering it a homicide investigation.

Media: Midland Reporter-Telegram

Painter believes the remains are connected to the case of two missing teens from October 2015, according to the article.

Investigators were led to the WCR 116 area after receiving information in reference to a possible homicide. A K9 team began searching an 18-acre area, and the dogs made hits on two locations in a pit that was mostly filled in. The county and city provided equipment to move debris, and investigators also were using shovels and rakes.